Trace element detection with Thor LVX system

The Thor LVX Cargo System from Valley Forge has shown in tests its ability to detect trace elements of explosives in cargo and baggage

Valley Forge Composite Technologies has said that recently completed tests show its photonuclear Thor LVX cargo/baggage detection system can detect trace elements of explosives and other illicit materials that other systems fail to identify. Moreover, the company said, the Thor LVX, also penetrates shieldings that thwart penetration by many other systems.

Valley Forge CEO Lou Brothers said, 'These detection test results show that the Thor LVX may be the long sought-after system that can protect the world's cargo ports.'

The breakthrough system works by penetrating baggage or cargo containers with a micro burst of high energy gamma beams, which are capable of penetrating through feet of steel or lead to generate quantitative molecular fingerprints of the contents. Any items containing the targeted isotopes of carbon, nitrogen and/or oxygen emit secondary gamma radiation in response. THOR LVX measures the amount of energy released and the elapsed time in milliseconds in order to identify the chemical composition. Patented software is used for analysing the signals.

'We are proud to declare that as of today, the photonuclear strategy used by our THOR-LVX system has been confirmed as feasible for this purpose,' he explained.

These successful results complete the detector development stage of THOR-LVX. Final testing, leading to complete certification, is ongoing with the goal to complete all work during the first half of 2009, according to Brothers.

The completed application of THOR LVX will enable the scanning of containers in as little as 30 seconds with high confidence levels. The digital signals can be transmitted to the proper authorities instantaneously putting these agencies in unprecedented control of ports and borders.

Numerous countries have expressed interest in THOR LVX and the first Export License has been received.

Currently, only a small fraction of incoming shipping containers are being screened. THOR LVX proposes to mitigate these problems by becoming the new Advanced Cargo and Baggage Screening system with the highest accuracy and capability. THOR LVX with its high accuracy and high speed is capable of providing the performance enhancement necessary for the scanning of all cargo.